Improvement in fruit-driers



A. M; MORTIMER.

FRUIT DRIER.

No.181,094. Patenteei Au 15, 1876.

ATTORNEY N, PETERs. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcn.

ANDREW M. MORTIMER, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TERRITORY.

IMPROVEMENT lN FRUIT-DRIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,094, dated August 15, 1876; application filed June 26, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW M. MORTI- MER, of Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and Territory of Utah, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Driers, of which the following is a specification:

Figure l is a front view of my improved fruit-drier. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the same, taken through the line as m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved apparatus for drying fruit in the sun, which shall be so constructed that the fruit may be easily covered and protected in stormy weather, and that the drier maybe conveniently adjusted into such positions as will best expose the fruit to the suns rays.

The invention consists in the combination of the base-frame, the upright frame, the pivoted bars, and the pivoted shelves with each other, and in the combination of the stationary parts and the hinged parts of the cover, the shaft and crank, and the curtains with the frame-work and the swinging shelves, as hereinafter fully described.

A represents the base frame of the machine, in the center of which is formed a hole or-socket to receive the pivot B, attached to a stationary block, 0, so that the drier may be conveniently turned to bring it into such positions that the fruit may be fully exposed to the rays of the sun. To the middle parts of the side bars of the frame A are attached two upright frames, D, the outer sides of which have boards or canvas attached to them. To the top bar of each of the frames D are pivoted the upper ends of one or more pairs of bars, E, to which, at suitable distances apart, are pivoted the corners of a number of shelves, F. The shelves F will thus be held horizontal to whatever distance the lower ends of the bars E may be swung outward, and have upwardly-projecting flanges formed around their edges, to keep the fruit from falling off while they are being adjusted. To the lower end of the inner bar E of each pair is pivoted the end of a foot, G, the other end of which rests upon a bar of the base-frame A, and thus supports the swinging-shelf frames or hangers in any position into which they may headjusted. To the upper end bars of the frames D is attached a wide board, H, which has four longitudinal cleats or flanges attached to it, to adapt its side parts to serve as stationary shelves to receive fruit. To the upper ends of the frames D are attached triangular boards 1, to the upper parts of which are attached the ends of the upper and stationary parts J of the cover.

K are the lower parts of the cover, the upper edges of which are hinged to the lower edges of the upper parts J, so that said lower parts K may be turned up over the said upper parts J. To the triangular boards I are pivoted the ends of a rod or shaft, L, to the end of which is attached a crank, M. To the shaft L are attached the upper edges of two curtains, N, of canvas or other suitable material, the lower edges of which are attached to two bars, 0, the weight of which keeps the said curtains taut. The curtains N, when lowered, are secured by buttons P or other fasteners, which are attached to the lower ends of the outer bars E, or to bars Q, attached to said bars E.

In using the drier, the curtains N are rolled upon the shaft L by turning the crank M until the bars or rods 0 are nearly in contact with the lower edges of the hinged parts K of the cover J K. The ends of the curtains N are then turned up over the lower edges of the said parts K of the cover. The said parts K are then turned up over the parts J, and a turn of the crank M will make all snug. The lower parts of the shelf-frames are then swung out to the required distance and secured by the feet G.

The whole machine is occasionally turned upon its pivot, to keep it in such positions that the fruit may receive the full benefit of the suns rays. At night and in case of showers, the swinging-shelf frames are swung back between the frames D, and the curtains are lowered and secured.

shaft and crank L M, and the curtains N with the frame-work A D and the swinging shelves E F, substantially as herein shown and described.

ANDREW M. MORTIMER.

Witnesses:

SAML. W. RITER, ALONZO H. RALEIGH. 

